March 23, 2006, 1:33AM Van Gundy wants 'winning culture' Rockets to be watched closely in the last month By JONATHAN FEIGEN Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle OKLAHOMA CITY - The team goals, beyond just somehow getting a win, have been slipping away with every loss. The playoff chase is not spoken of, given the number of victories it would take to make the postseason for a team that has not gotten a win since March 8. When asked about their faint playoff hopes, the Rockets spoke as teams do this time of season — about pride and professionalism. Luther Head cited the need to improve. Keith Bogans said the Rockets must "fight to the end," adding that their coach would not give them a choice. "We have to keep fighting," Bogans said. "Coach is not the type of coach that would let us give in anyway." But as much as he preaches team success, coach Jeff Van Gundy admitted the Rockets have ample reason to be moved by individual objectives. This is not to say he would approve if someone started chasing statistics, though everyone getting on the court these days has a greater opportunity to compile numbers than they've ever had before. He will not advocate any other form of self-interest. But on a roster full of players getting more responsibility and playing time than ever, they should have no trouble finding things to play for. Thinking of the fans "A lot of our guys are at the crossroads of their careers," Van Gundy said. "Some know it, and some don't. Individually and as a team, we have a lot to play for, regardless of where we stand in the standings. But more so, we owe it when people pay to come see us." The Rockets enter tonight's game against the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets at 29-39 — five games behind the Sacramento Kings, who are eighth in the Western Conference playoff race. Van Gundy is coaching a team full of players with uncertain futures, either in the last season of their contracts (Bogans, David Wesley and Chuck Hayes) or in roles far beyond any they have had before (Head and Rafer Alston). Big time for Head "Certainly Wesley's trying to secure a future in this league," Van Gundy said. "Bogans is trying to secure a future. Luther may never have it better than he has it this year, right now, to carve out a career for himself. "Rafer is trying to prove (whether he is) a 24-minute-a-game guy for a good team, 32-minute or 36-minute. That is to be answered. Chuck is trying to carve out a career and be able to stay on a team. I think Ryan (Bowen) has had a worse year than he had last year. He's going to have to try to figure out how to stay in this league. Deke (Dikembe Mutombo), is it still important to him? Does he want to continue on in his career? "Even going forward, Tracy (McGrady) has to have a big bounce-back year for us," Van Gundy continued. "We have to get his shooting percentages more efficient. We have to get his home play more efficient. And coaches, we have a lot to prove that we can bounce back and try to build some things so we have a head start on next year." Van Gundy has insisted that he will not make any changes to his rotation unless they give the Rockets a better chance to win. With the Rockets bringing a six-game losing streak into tonight's game, Van Gundy said he will continue to chase victories, hoping to find out who can win or who might improve enough to win. Like 'middle relievers'? "I think everybody has a lot to play for and coach for," Van Gundy said. "We're going to play to win. We need to put a lot of pressure on our guys to see if they're just guys who can eat up a lot of minutes like middle relievers or if they can really play in a winning environment. "I think (with this) being the third year (as Rockets coach), we've had a lot of changeover," Van Gundy said. "What you want to have established is a winning culture and how you do things and how important it is to do the things you're asked to do correctly and right. I think when you have as much changeover as we've had, sometimes that gets lost. You have to make sure everybody has the right amount of intensity and discipline and knowledge so they can play their very best. "For all of our guys, this is a very important stretch. Even though it may not be reflected in the standings right now, it is (important) for their futures." jonathan.feigen@chron.com Rockets Summary Wishing for swishing In their six-game losing streak, the Rockets have averaged 79.8 points per game, despite scoring 50.2 points per game from the free-throw line or in the paint, indicating how little they are getting from their perimeter shooting. "(We're) not hitting outside shots — again," guard Rafer Alston said of the Rockets' offensive troubles. "( Yao Ming) is making great, pinpoint passes to us. We had great spacing. It's the inability to consistently knock down outside shots." The issue of the Rockets' poor aim has become so unavoidable that it could make shooting even more difficult. "I try not to think about it," guard Luther Head said. "When you think about it, it puts a lot of pressure on you shooting the ball. You have to be free, just jumping up there, shooting your regular shot and hoping it falls for you." The team made seven of 21 shots in the second quarter Monday and Tuesday, leading to other breakdowns. "When you shoot poorly and you're a bad shooting team, all mistakes are exaggerated," coach Jeff Van Gundy said. 0-13 in division The Hornets last season lost their first 14 games in the Southwest Division, a run of futility the Rockets would match with a loss to New Orleans/Oklahoma City tonight. The Rockets are 0-13 in the Southwest this season with games remaining against the Hornets, Grizzlies and Spurs. No team has ever gone winless in its division for a full season. The Celtics had the worst division mark: 1-23 in the Atlantic Division in the 1996-97 season. The NBA moved to its six-division format last season. JONATHAN FEIGEN
LOL. winning culture.. heh.. then he needs to quit bringing in ex-Knicks, scrubs from losing organizations, and broke down old players
Emphasis on the Rafer part. Even Gundy, the guy who brought him here, doubts he can be a starting PG (big minutes PG) for a championship team.
This isn't a knock on JVG -- just a general observation... I love that you hear phrases like "winning culture" only from losing teams.
Talk is cheap. ... "Rafer is trying to prove (whether he is) a 24-minute-a-game guy for a good team, 32-minute or 36-minute. That is to be answered. Can we stop the Tony Parker comparison now?
Well, wasnt it CD that said he did his "Homework" when they brought Rafer over. Me things SVG is a better coach than JVG with players.
Keyword is culture. You cultivate it. It doesnt magically happen... And it certainly wont grow when you keep cutting off the roots andb ranch of the team by letting go of players like Barry, Mike James, Padgett.... ...and dump a big load on it by playing Ryan Bowen and Juwan Howard big minutes.
Believe it or not, Rafer's "breakout" season in Miami statistically was about as blah as his season now, though he did shoot much better from behind the arc two years ago.
And again, its amazing that he says players names without including his own. Thats right, JVG has been great all year long. JVG thinks Tmac should excel in the screen and roll, even if he's triple teamed and everyone knows what the ONE offensive set is. JVG was the one who said he doesnt excel in the fastbreak although he won 2 freaking scoring titles that way. JVG dont take blame, he blames everyone else. JVG is a flawless coach.
I know, but i was making a point that it was him and CD who said they researched the guy before they brought him over. Obviously someone is terrible at their job.
To be fair, he did mention about himself, though put in a collective term in the article: "And coaches, we have a lot to prove that we can bounce back and try to build some things so we have a head start on next year."
JVG routinely takes blame. He's his harshest critic. Well, aside from this bbs. He'll often refer to "bad coaching." It's one thing I love about him.
hey jeff, i know your players haven't played as well as you expected this year, but take a long look in the mirror buddy. it's not just players who lose games, it takes an entire organization to be losing, including yourself. stop blaming everything on the players, and take some of the blame yourself.
